Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The newly inaugurated governing board of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has been charged by the federal government to enhance the smooth running of its administration in the area of transparency and accountability.
Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who performed the inauguration of the new NEITI board on Thursday in Abuja, congratulated the members, saying their appointment as NEITI board members were based on individual merits and track records.
“Your appointment and inauguration, which is taking place here today, is another practical demonstration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of our economic resources.
“And especially, given the mandate and objectives of NEITI,” Mr Mustapha said.
The nation’s scribe said that the present administration was passionate about the NEITI process because it served two key agendas of the administration.
He said that the extractive industry was very strategic to Nigeria’s economy, hence central to the administration’s economic agenda.
According to Mr Mustapha, transparency and accountability in the management of the nation’s resources are equally central to the anti-corruption agenda of Nigeria.
He said it was, therefore, irrevocably committed to the implementation of NEITI in the oil, gas, and mining industries.
The SGF, therefore, tasked NEITI board members to ensure that the agency continued to preserve the virtues for the benefit of the present and for future generations of Nigeria.
“In order to achieve this, I must remind you that your assignment is non-partisan because NEITI itself is non-political and has maintained dignified neutrality all through almost two decades of existence.
“It is also necessary for me to stress that your appointment is a part-time one. You are therefore advised to conduct yourselves in accordance with this requirement,” he said.
According to Mr Olusegun Adekunle, serving on the board, he assured that the board would not disappoint the president in the course of carrying out its assigned duties.
The retired permanent secretary said his appointment alongside other board members was another opportunity to serve Nigeria in another capacity.
“Let me also congratulate my colleagues on the board for this wonderful opportunity to serve our nation in a different capacity.
“I must say that the confidence reposed in us is huge but our commitment to this assignment is also strong; we shall, therefore, work as a team with focus and with integrity,” Mr Adekunle said.
The board comprises:
Olusegun Adeyemi Adekunle, Esq. – Chairman (Public Administrator/Retired Federal Permanent Secretary)
Group Managing Director, (NNPC) Mele Kyari – Member (Representing National Oil Gas Company Industry)
Executive Chairman, FIRS, Muhammad Mamman Nami – Member (Extractive Industry Revenue accountability)
President, Nigeria Mining & Geosciences Society Alabo Charles – Member (Extractive Industry Professional Union)
President, PENGASSAN Comrade Festus Osifo – Member (Extractive Industries Professional Union Industries)
Mr Lorenzo Fiorillo – Member (Chairman OPTS Representative- IOCs, Oil, Gas Industry Companies)
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade – Member (Representative, Government Extractive Industries- Mining)
Peter Egbule – Member (National Coordinator, Publish What You Pay representative, Civil Society)
Dr Bashir Bature Gafai – Member (Geo-Political Rep: North-West Zone)
Dr Iliya Gashinbaki – Member (Geo-Political Rep: North-East Zone)
Godwin Akor Ogwuche – Member (Geo-Political Rep: North-Central Zone)
Professor Damilola Olawuyi – Member (Geo-Political Rep: South-West Zone)
Dr Nze Joe Ibeh – Member (Geo-Political Rep: South-East Zone)
Awowoh Christian – Member (Geo-Political Rep: South-South Zone)
Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji – Member (Executive Secretary, NEITI by virtue of Office)
